School Project
On Thursday 1st February 2018, two schools came together at Bradwell Village School to perform their own plays about the development of Milton Keynes. The performance was a collaborative project between Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre, Living Archive MK and two schools, Emberton and Bradwell Village.
The school children learnt why new towns started being built in 1946. They looked at city living conditions in the 1950s. They learnt how cities have grown and how Milton Keynes is very different with its linear grid system. They also listened to archive audio interviews from people tasked with building the new town.
Emberton School focused on the stories of the Londoners, the villagers and the designers. The children (5-7 years old) used what they had learnt to create new words to a song set to the tune of “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” from My Fair Lady.
The school children learnt why new towns started being built in 1946. They looked at city living conditions in the 1950s. They learnt how cities have grown and how Milton Keynes is very different with its linear grid system. They also listened to archive audio interviews from people tasked with building the new town.
Emberton School focused on the stories of the Londoners, the villagers and the designers. The children (5-7 years old) used what they had learnt to create new words to a song set to the tune of “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” from My Fair Lady.
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The children from Bradwell Village were older so went into more depth. They were particularly interested in the characters that played a part in developing Milton Keynes. They created a play based on real people from the late ‘70s. From the pioneers who were just settling in, to business owners, and members of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation who orchestrated the building and developmental work.
The Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr David Hopkins, who attended the performance, gave a speech afterwards where he said that one of the children’s resemblance to Fred Lloyd Roche (the character that he was playing) was uncanny! Many kind words were said afterwards, most about how well the children had done, and also how much people had learnt from the plays.
The teachers were pleased at how the children had been able to both learn and express their creativity at the same time.
“It was interesting and enjoyable to take part in this project. The children have learnt such a lot about real life local history in a way that has been enjoyable and informative. The children were shown archive resources such as real newspapers from the 1970s and slides and videos about the building of Milton Keynes. This, alongside drawing their own ideas and creating the performance, made it so much more real to the children. I am sure that when they are adults they will have a much greater appreciation of the city we are affiliated with and will have developed a little understanding of the social processes involved in building it.”
Mrs Pandya, Emberton School
The Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr David Hopkins, who attended the performance, gave a speech afterwards where he said that one of the children’s resemblance to Fred Lloyd Roche (the character that he was playing) was uncanny! Many kind words were said afterwards, most about how well the children had done, and also how much people had learnt from the plays.
The teachers were pleased at how the children had been able to both learn and express their creativity at the same time.
“It was interesting and enjoyable to take part in this project. The children have learnt such a lot about real life local history in a way that has been enjoyable and informative. The children were shown archive resources such as real newspapers from the 1970s and slides and videos about the building of Milton Keynes. This, alongside drawing their own ideas and creating the performance, made it so much more real to the children. I am sure that when they are adults they will have a much greater appreciation of the city we are affiliated with and will have developed a little understanding of the social processes involved in building it.”
Mrs Pandya, Emberton School
Click on the image to watch the film
